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Natural Food Stores And Their Roles In The Body

There are 3 main natural food stores in the body. The first is made up of carbohydrates; the second is made up of protein; and the third is made up of fat.

The functions of proteins, carbohydrates and fats in the body are all important for the body to function at its best. It is important for us to ingest enough of these to ensure we live healthy lives. The best way to do this is by looking at the food pyramid. It consists of 5 food groups, and should be used as a guideline to assist in eating the right amount of each group.

Contents Of The 5 Food Groups

Food Groups Components
Red meats and eggs Amino acids (make up proteins), Vitamins, Minerals and Fats
Fruits, nuts and healthy fats Carbohydrates, Minerals, Vitamins, Essential fatty acids
Low GL Carbohydrates Carbohydrates, Fibre
Lean animal proteins, low fat dairy Amino acids, Vitamins, Minerals, Good bacteria, Essential fatty acids
Vegetables Carbohydrates, Minerals, Vitamins

As you can see from the table all of the groups contain at least one component of our natural food stores.

The Functions Of Carbohydrates

Carbohydrates are our main energy source. The recommended daily intake is 220 to 330g/day for men and 180 to 230g/day for women. Some of the key roles of Carbohydrates are:
  • Providing energy
  • Sparing the use of proteins for energy
  • Breakdown of fatty acids
If we do not eat enough Carbohydrates the brain cannot function normally. The brain is the only organ which is totally dependent on Carbohydrates namely glucose. Therefore, when planning a healthier diet it is important to include the right amount of carbohydrates.

The Functions Of Proteins

Meat, fish, chicken, eggs, nuts, legumes and dairy all contain proteins. Proteins are broken down in the body to amino acids. These have various roles in the body and should never be omitted from your diet. Proteins function in the following ways:
  • Antibodies - These are proteins found in the body which help fight against foreign particles such as virus, bacteria and other harmful substances.
  • Movement - There are specialised proteins that help our muscles contract. Muscles are also made up of proteins.
  • Enzymes - These are substances which speed up chemical reactions in our body
  • Hormonal Proteins - such as insulin that helps regulate blood glucose.
  • Structural Proteins - These provide support all around the body including in the skin and nails.
  • Storage Proteins - are used for storage
  • Transport Proteins - These move things around the body. Haemoglobin is an example.
  • Building and repairing body tissue

The Functions Of Fat

The next component of the natural food stores in the body is Fat. Fats come in many form. Some can increase your risk of heart disease others can help reduce the risk of heart disease, eczema and other health conditions. The body can absorb Fat from our diet and make Fat from excess Carbohydrates, which is then stored in adipose tissue. Good fats come from seeds, nuts, some fruits such as Avocado and oily fish. Bad fats come from too much red meat and oils containing saturated fats. On average Fats make up 40% of our daily energy requirement and hence is a very important part of our diet. Its roles are as follows:
  • Cushioning organs
  • Provides more than half the energy requirements of some organs such as the heart and liver
  • Protect eyes form disease
  • Assist brain function and development
  • n - 3 essential fatty acids thin the blood
  • Help to keep blood vessels flexible
  • Assist in water proofing the skin and preventing moisture loss.
All of these components of natural food stores in the body are immensely important and omitting them from the diet can be detrimental to one's health. Following the guidelines of the food pyramid can help assist you to eat adequate amounts of the right foods and hopefully help you live a long healthy life.

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